Recognizing the ‘Favor of God’ in a Different Place Pt. 2

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” – Maria Robinson

“Stand up to your obstacles and do something about them. You will find that they haven’t half the strength you think they have.” – Norman Vincent Peale

Genesis 39:16-21 New International Version (NIV)

16 She kept his cloak beside her until his master came home. ¹⁷ Then she told him this story: “That Hebrew slave you brought us came to me to make sport of me. ¹⁸ But as soon as I screamed for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.”

19 When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, “This is how your slave treated me,” he burned with anger. ²⁰ Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined. But while Joseph was there in the prison, ²¹ the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.

Forward Thinkers, can you imagine the emotional rollercoaster Joseph is on.

He just recovered from a very negative situation with his family, now he is having a horrible time with his employer. Have you ever had a season in your life where you had to deal with negativity everywhere you went even though, you know you are anointed with the favor of God?

Forward Thinkers, I must remind you the “Favor of God” FOG does not prevent you from experiencing some difficult places, but the FOG will give you the power to go through difficult places and not be defeated.

Forward Thinkers, Joseph had the “Favor of God” on him, therefore; his family selling him out could not stop him from reaching his full potential in life.

Forward Thinkers, the FOG on Joseph’s life allowed him to come out the pit and excel. Because we serve the same God as Joseph, we can no longer make excuses for quitting doing a difficult season. Forward Thinkers, if God showed Joseph favor in a difficult place he will also do the same thing for you.

Forward Thinkers, before I unfold the text for this week let me pause to remind you the same God that favored Joseph is the same God that’s favoring you today.

Forward Thinkers, think over your life how many times people have tried to defeat you but somehow God keeps bringing you through. Forward Thinkers remember Joseph was even sold as a slave to a group of people who should have mistreated him but the favor of God on Joseph’s life caused them to sell him to Potiphar.

Yes, Forward Thinkers, God’s favor can use a negative situation to promote you to a better place in life.

Forward Thinkers, I must inform you the enemy will never give up as a matter of fact the more favor of God on your life the more aggressive the devil’s attempt to defeat you will become. Forward Thinkers, shout right that the “Favor of God” will keep bringing you through.

Forward Thinkers, this brings us to today’s text: Genesis 39:16-21 

Joseph had been promoted in Potiphar camp to a high ranking position then Potiphar wife lies on Joseph.

Forward Thinkers Satan will use lies, gossip, and rumors to try to take you out but keep your faith and believe the truth will set you free.

Look at verse 20: Joseph was put in prison

But—I’ve learned how to praise God out loud for all my BUT GOD situations

The devil thought he had me But God

Sickness thought it could kill me But God

Depression thought it could steal my mind But God

Somebody walked out on me declared I’d never been anything But God

Forward Thinkers, while Joseph was there in prison, he received the favor of God. God can favor you right where you are, no matter where you may be. The FOG gave Joseph success even in prison. Whatever you are going through right now it can’t cancel the “Favor of God” from your life.

Jump down to Genesis 41:41

Genesis 41:41 New International Version (NIV)

41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.”

Forward Thinkers, Pharaoh who is the top man in all the land now brings Joseph into his administration as his right hand man. Joseph had endured a lot of ups and downs; he went through all kind of unfair situations, Joseph was mistreated by his family, lied on by his employers wife and let down by people he had helped but in spite of all that the “Favor of God” kept flowing in his life.

Forward Thinkers, shout today and declare you receive it and won’t stop believing.

Genesis 50:20 New International Version (NIV)

20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

Forward Thinkers, the story of Joseph encourages me to keep going doing a difficult season in life; nothing can cancel the favor of God on your life and I’m declaring today Forward Thinkers, the favor of God is waiting to promote you to the next level of life.

Pastor E. A. Deckard is the Senior Pastor/Founder of the Green House International Church located, 16711 Ella Blvd. Houston, Texas, 77090. To contact Pastor Deckard for speaking engagements contact him at pr.ghic@gmail.com or the church website http://www.ghic.net.